A California medical laboratory company plans to open a high-end lab in Oro Valley to serve the local bioscience and health-care industries.
LCMS Laboratories Inc., based in La Jolla, Calif., will open the laboratory in March at 10831 N. Mavinee Drive, Suite 105, says Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Inc.
The lab is expected to create about 30 to 40 laboratory and administrative jobs within a few years, depending on market demand, the company said. Wage levels were not disclosed but are expected to be competitive in an industry where the median wage for technicians was about $19 an hour in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The new laboratory will provide clinical diagnostics, support for contract research organizations and diagnostic test development, using the latest technologies. The lab will be certified under the guidelines of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, the federal standard for labs that perform testing for human diagnostics, TREO said.
LCMS Laboratories worked with TREO, the Bioscience Industry Organization of Southern Arizona and other bioscience and diagnostic industry partners to establish the Oro Valley lab.
“Our company was founded on the premise of having science support the practice of medicine, primarily in high-complexity diagnostic testing,” Dale Ziegler, CEO of LCMS Laboratories, said in prepared remarks Wednesday.
“The goals and objectives of the Tucson scientific and medical communities blend perfectly with our future endeavors,” he said, adding that the enthusiastic support of Tucson-area community leaders helped seal the deal.
Dr. Ray Woosley, president of AZCERT Inc. and board member of both TREO and BIOSA, said the new lab facility fits in with TREO’s strategy to boost the area’s diagnostics industry, adding to a critical mass of diagnostics firms and providing much-needed lab services for emerging companies.
“Currently many new bioscience companies send testing of this nature out of our market, increasing the turnaround time and cost of doing business,” Woosley said. “The attraction of LCMS Laboratories represents a success story that helps to fill both of these needs within our community.
“LCMS Laboratories will offer highly-skilled, high-wage jobs in our region and represents the next step to build a critical mass in a competitive industry,” said Joe Snell, president and CEO of TREO.
Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath noted that the town has become a hub for biosciences, diagnostics and high-tech industries, with companies like Ventana Medical Systems, Sanofi and Securaplane. The new lab’s location is east of North Oracle Road, off East Hanley Boulevard.
LCMS isn’t getting any financial incentives to open in Oro Valley, but may qualify for performance-based state job-training credits, officials said.
